The Hindu : No emergency rule during polls: Deuba

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 15, 2002

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No emergency rule during polls: Deuba

KATHMANDU JUNE 14. The emergency rule imposed since November due to Maoist insurgency in Nepal would be lifted during the Parliamentary elections later this year, the Prime Minister, Sher Bahadur Deuba, has said.

He told presspersons on Thursday that the Opposition parties had feared that the elections under emergency would not be free and fair, as the ruling party could misuse the police and army to intimidate voters. ``There will be no emergency during the general elections,'' he said. Mr. Deuba did not say when the emergency rule would be lifted. Under emergency, soldiers and police have extensive powers to detain people they suspect of supporting the Maoists, who have fought since1996 to end Nepal's Constitutional monarchy and install a Communist Government.

Seven Maoists killed

Nepalese security forces have shot dead seven Maoist rebels in separate encounters, the Defence Ministry said today.

Two rebels were gunned down in Semlar area of Rupandehi district during search operations, it said. Two terrorists were killed in Khamlalung area of Terhathum district, two in Itahari Municipality of Sunsari district and one rebel in Vijayakharka area of Khotang district, the Ministry said. Meanwhile, Radio Nepal said the toll in the 12-hour-long encounter between Army personnel and the rebels in Damachaur area of Salyan district on Wednesday and yesterday has crossed 200.

PTI

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